Croydon High Sixth Form Electives
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Croydon High School Sixth Form Course Guide 2020-2022 Welcome to the Sixth Form at Croydon High This is a very exciting time for you as you prepare to make choices that will help determine your future education and working life. You will no doubt be thinking hard about your own aspirations and I am delighted that you are taking a closer look at the Sixth Form at Croydon High School. Our Sixth Formers are confident and engaged, compassionate and ambitious young women. These powerful traits are nurtured in their two years with us, through a careful balance of academic challenge and exceptional pastoral support. I witness this every day in my own dealings with the Sixth Form and my opinion is reinforced by the regular feedback I receive from staff and members of the wider community. Our girls set high expectations for themselves and they make the most of the wealth of opportunities available to them. They are the leaders of our school and demonstrate integrity and energy in all that they do. At the heart of their sixth form experience lies a strong mentoring philosophy exemplified by the attitude and commitment of our teaching staff. This is the foundation of our Pathways Mentoring Programme; an innovative approach to careers’ education which we launched in September 2017. We believe each individual girl should be in the driving seat of her own sixth form experience. Through careful mentoring and guidance, each of our girls gain maximum benefit from the excellent opportunities available to her in the Sixth Form at Croydon High. Exceptional expertise and experience is channelled and readily available for each girl as and when she needs it. You can read more about this in the Pathways Guide included in your information pack. On Open Evening, we aim to give you all the information you need to help you make those important decisions about your sixth form options. However, I would very much welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your parents to discuss your future aspirations in more detail. My very best wishes. Emma Pattison Headmistress The Sixth Form at Croydon High School is an exceptional and intellectually rigorous place to study. At its core is an academic curriculum characterised by an interactive and exciting approach to teaching and learning. The goal is to inspire aspiration and independence in ‘every girl, every day’. In Lower Sixth our students choose three A levels, an elective and at least three mini electives. These choices are explained in more detail on page 6 of this Course Guide, but, in summary, they provide every girl with a bespoke programme of study designed to optimise her performance in her A levels and also allow her to continue with subjects that interest her and which may also enhance her future study and career aspirations. Striking a balance between academic excellence and first-rate pastoral support, we seek to nurture the individual so she can be a confident, engaged, compassionate and ambitious future leader of society. Indeed we invest of a lot of time and effort in preparing girls for their future, placing importance on giving girls the tools and self-awareness they need to develop their own personal ‘brand’. Through careful monitoring and guidance, our innovative Careers and Pathways Mentoring Programmes, in tandem with the ability to draw on our extensive alumnae network for advice and work experience, ensures that girls make informed choices and their future and leave us as confident, real-world ready, young women. I look forward to meeting you at one of our open events and I would be delighted to meet with you and your parents to discuss your future plans in more detail. Sophie Bradshaw Deputy Head (Sixth Form and Operations) 3 Results and achievements – class of 2019 Outstanding results secure exciting futures at Croydon High In a year group of diverse interest and ambition, the Class of 2019 are heading off on many different paths secure in the knowledge that their hard work has paid off and they have achieved their goals. Almost half of all grades awarded at A level were A and A*. 60% go on to Russell 100% A* A in Computer Group Universities Science 83% A* or A grades for the 100% A* A in highly regarded Extended Modern Foreign Project Qualification Languages 70% to first choice destinations These are just some examples of the many individual stories and achievements that make up the Class of 2019. We are very proud of each and every one of them. Architect of her own success… Dreams can come true… Head Girl, Kristin Special mention must be made Agyekumhene’s A* in of Siena Cornish, whose stellar Computer Science and A in achievement of A* grades in Art, Maths and German and A* Maths and Physics and A* at EPQ EPQ sends her safely on her ensures that she will be taking up a way to Edinburgh to realise a coveted place at Queen’s College, long held dream of studying Cambridge, to read Architecture. Software Engineering. Smile please… STEM students shine… Nahid Inayat has long had her Rebecca Willans will be heading to sights firmly set on Dentistry Durham to read Natural Sciences and was certainly smiling having armed with a set of exceptional achieved an A* in Biology and A results; A* grades in Biology and grades in Chemistry and Maths Chemistry, A grades in Maths and and an A* EPQ. Nahid will be Physics and A* at EPQ. taking up her place at King’s College London. A Young Apprentice… Jess Grant’s ambition was always to start building a career in the City, so the whole school was extremely proud when she was offered a coveted place on the highly competitive HR apprenticeship scheme at Rothschild & Co. Her excellent ABC grades at A level will serve her well as she begins working in this exciting and demanding environment. 4 Entry requirements There is a minimum requirement of six grade 6s or equivalent qualifications to enter the Sixth Form at Croydon High. SUBJECT SUBJECT CRITERIA FOR A-LEVEL STUDY Art Grade 7 GCSE Art if taken, or personal portfolio approval by the Head of Art Biology* Grade 7 in Biology GCSE Business Grade 6 in Mathematics, grade 6 in English GCSE and grade 6 in another humanities subject Chemistry* Grade 7 in Chemistry GCSE and Grade 7 at GCSE Mathematics Classical Civilisation Grade 6 (B) in English Literature /humanities GCSE Computer Science Grade 6 in Computer Science and grade 7 in Mathematics Economics Grade 6 in Mathematics, grade 6 in English GCSE and grade 6 in another humanities subject English Language Grade 6 (B) in English and grade 6 in English Literature GCSE English Literature Grade 6 (B) in English and grade 6 in English Literature GCSE French Grade 7 in French GCSE Geography Grade 6 in Geography GCSE plus grade 6 in Maths or a science German Grade 7 in German GCSE Government & Politics Grade 6 (B) in English or one of the humanities History Grade 6 in History GCSE where taken, or a grade 6 in an alternative humanities subject Latin Grade 7 in GCSE Latin Grade 8 in Mathematics GCSE and ideally a grade B minimum in AQA Level 2 Further Mathematics* Mathematics Further Mathematics* Grade 8 in Mathematics at GCSE Grade 7 in Music GCSE (where taken) or a sufficiently high level of musicianship determined by Music the Director of Music Grade 7 in P.E. GCSE where taken, or a grade 6 in GCSE Biology and English where PE PE was not taken Physics* Grade 7 in Physics GCSE and Grade 7 at GCSE Mathematics Psychology Grade 6 in GCSE Mathematics, Biology and another humanities subject Religion, Ethics & Philosophy Grade 6 in R.S. GCSE where taken, grade 6 in English or a grade 6 in an alternative humanities subject Grade 6 (minimum but preferably Grade 7) in English Literature and a grade 6 in another Sociology humanities subject Spanish Grade 7 in Spanish GCSE Theatre Studies Grade 6 in Drama GCSE where taken, or grade 6 in English Literature where Drama was not taken Three Dimensional Design Grade 7 in GCSE 3D Design if taken, or personal portfolio approval by the Head of Art Most students opt to take 3 A level subjects and will be offered clear advice regarding which combination of subjects best suits their aspirations for University or future careers. Girls are fully supported to help them transfer smoothly from Lower Sixth to Upper Sixth, with regular feedback to parents and an open door policy from the Head of Sixth Form to enable early resolution of any concerns. * The requirement is as stated (7/8), however, the new linear A levels are more challenging in terms of content and skills and GCSE is seen to be a poor predictor of success at A level in these subjects. In particular, any weaknesses identified at GCSE will be magnified at A level and so students should always discuss suitability for these subjects with their Head of Department/teacher. 5 Sixth Form Programme of Study At Croydon High Sixth Form, students choose three A levels, an elective and at least three mini electives. This bespoke programme of study allows students to make achieving three top grades their priority while simultaneously exploring interests which are unique to them. CHOOSE YOUR Our Sixth Form elective programme is based on the elective A LEVELS module system used at Cambridge, Durham and York, among other world leading research-led universities. Our electives and mini electives allows students to: PICK AN • further individualise their studies; ELECTIVE • better prepare themselves for university or their chosen career; ADD • develop skills not required for their chosen YOUR MINI A-level subjects; ELECTIVE • deepen their understanding in an existing subject, or study a contrasting subject; • develop leadership and interpersonal skills; • further develop as confident and compassionate individuals.